Torre invited to Yankees Old-Timers’ Day

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TAMPA, Fla.
— Former New York manager Joe Torre has been invited to Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium.

Torre won four World Series titles and six AL pennants while managing the Yankees from 1996-2007.

Torre is now the executive vice president of operations for Major League Baseball. He’s currently visiting spring training camps in Florida for meetings with managers and general managers.

“I’m planning on going,” Torre said.

Torre was at George Steinbrenner Field on Thursday night to visit Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, New York manager Joe Girardi and players.

“Whatever they give me,” said Torre, when asked if would wear his old No. 6. “As long as they don’t ask me to play, it’s OK. I never did that in a Yankee uniform.”

Torre was at Steinbrenner Field for first time since the fall of 2007, when contract issues ended his tenure as Yankees’ manager.

“It does feel strange, but it feels good,” Torre said. “It’s water under the bridge, I guess. I never would have changed anything, to be honest with you. I don’t know how it could ended differently. I don’t know if either one of us knew how to say goodbye at that point in time.”

Thursday’s return was made easier after Torre was invited to New York last year for the tribute to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died last July at the age of 80.

“It would have been, probably, a little more uncomfortable,” Torre said. “It means a lot. Without this opportunity here, my whole professional career would have been different. This was the main part of my career. The time in New York I’ll never forget. What it meant to my career, my family, everything else.”

“I don’t think the emotion will ever go out of it,” Torre added. “It’s not bad by any stretch of imagination. It was a great run.”